Thawing of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in South Africa is not standardized and thawing at high
temperatures may cause clotting factor activation and disseminated intravascular coagulation
(DIC). This research project studies the in-vitro effects of thawing FFP at various
temperatures on coagulation. Twenty units of FFP were each divided into 4 satellite bags
which were respectively thawed at 22ºC, 37ºC, 45ºC and 60ºC and tested for Fibrinogen, DDimers,
PT, PTT, r value, Alpha Angle and Maximum Amplitude (MA). FFP thawed at 60ºC
showed significant differences suggesting clotting factor inactivation. FFP thawed at 45ºC
showed significantly elevated D-Dimers. Clotting factors thawed at 22ºC may be partially
inactivated. High thawing temperatures may activate and then denature the factors therein.
Twenty two degrees may partially inactivate FFP until it is warmed to body temperature. The
clinical implications and recommendations of this study are to thaw FFP at 37ºC.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/5770 |
| Date | 20 October 2008 |
| Creators | Levy, Brian Leslie |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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